As we come to the end of another year in senior softball we hope that each team had a successful and rewarding 2009 Season in Senior Softball. It is still time to enter the ISSA Winter Nationals and begin the process of getting ready for 2010. We look forward to hosting your team next year in one or more of our tournaments. We will be holding the IX ISF Senior World Cup in June at Salem, VA, the XVI ISSA World Championships in August at Manassas, VA and the III ISSA Winter Nationals in October at Virginia Beach, VA. Each tournament will hold competition for Masters and Senior teams and a unique 35+ Coed Division. Remember Virginia is for Lovers....Softball Lovers. Take care and God Bless.

The ISSA Staff would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a most successful 2009 Season in Senior Softball. We look forward to hosting your team next year in one or more of our tournaments. Remember, there are angels among us who have been sent to guide you with love through any dark and trying times. Take care and count your blessings and make this year your most joyous Holiday Season.

JUST A THOUGHT – As we close out 2008 where did the year go? Seems only like yesterday we were putting plans into place to take senior softball to a new venue, hold a milestone event for Manassas and create an exciting year-end fun tournament. And if you think it is time for us to rest and relax, it want happen. Preparations for 2009 are already underway.

We value the feedback we receive from the senior participants. We would like to hear from you, be sure to include your name and team if you are a player. And as we head into the Holiday Season, we hope everyone has a memorable experience this year with family and friends gathered and happiness in the air. Life is relationships with people, enjoy them all. And with the youngsters gathered by the fireplace be sure to share a story or two about “The Game.”

JUST A THOUGHT – No sermon from RB this time, just a BIG announcement. The ISF, Senior Division has accepted the bid from the Roanoke Valley to return the Senior World Cup to their community in 2009. The VIII ISF Senior World Cup will be held on June 12-14. We hope to see your senior team at the World Cup of Senior Softball next year. Dad, I hope to see you at the ball field in June 2009.

JUST A THOUGHT – At this time of year all senior teams are well into their league season and/or traveling to their next tournament site. We should all pause and say a few words of thanks to all those who make participation in our sport possible; the field owners and staff, administrators, tournament directors, team sponsors and team managers and others. These people provide the players the opportunity to stay active and ageless in a sport that they love. Always remember, regardless of the final score we are all winners in the game of life just to be on the field among so many friends. Best wishes to everyone for a successful 2008 Season.

A WORD OF THANKS - This month I thought that I would use this space to thank all those senior players and friends from all over who have communicated their well wishes and held up my wife, Ann in prayer over the past 16 months. Many also advised that Ann was on their Church's Prayer List. Ann always appreciates everyone's concern and support and it was comforting for her to know that so many people in the sport of softball cared about her well being and were praying for her.

In March Ann had another setback and was hospitalized in our local hospital for a week with a very serious blood infection then had to be moved to a large teaching hospital to seek further treatment from one on the Nation's leading vascular surgeons. She was examined that night by the surgeon and his team of doctors and the conclusion was she needed emergency surgery which was scheduled for the next day. The medical experts assured us that the only resolution was to undergo surgery to remove a graft where the blood infection had settled. That evening on the one-hour drive home late at night I spent the time talking to God and prayed that he would abide with her and give her the strength and will to continue the brave fight she had been having for over a year as she battled multiple medical issues. I felt confident in the physicians but was really worried for how long Ann could stay mentally strong to cope with her issues. You see, the operation the next day would return her to where she started almost a year earlier and then after four operations which had left her with only partial use of her hands, she would be worse off than when she started. God heard our prayers.

The next morning Ann awoke to find her arm healed. The swelling the size of a tennis ball was gone, the bright red color was gone and the high temperature was gone. It was a miracle from God. In just a few short hours the area of her arm where a graft had been inserted two months earlier looked normal again, the medical team was surprised when they came to ready her for the operation and decided to postpone the surgery until the following day. The next day it looked even better and the following day she was released from the hospital. Today Ann is using the graft for dialysis and looking forward to tomorrow. Thanks again for all your prayers.

JUST A THOUGHT - Participation in senior softball becomes a major focus within the lives of many of the players. The sport brings with it the opportunity to meet many new people and develop long lasting friendships. Perhaps as we mature we understand more clearly the importance of friendships. As we begin a new year of senior softball we can rejoice in the fact that we are surrounded by a group of caring people. Some have touched our lives for a REASON, some for a SEASON and some for a LIFETIME. All are part of God’s plan for our lives and always remember that you too are on this team of “guardian angels.”